Page 262 of Under Her Skin
‘I came to see if you were okay.’ That dead voice again. ‘I’ll leave youalone.’
She reached out after him as he turned. ‘No, wait…I…’ But he stalkedout.
She looked at Theo now,so still, so silent and upright beside her. He turned, aware of her scrutiny, and for a second, his green eyes were cold, accusing. Then his mouth hitched up a little and his eyes softened. He winked at her and Jess felt his hand cover hers. He leaned in and kissed hercheek.
‘I love you,’ he murmured, burying his face in her hair for a second. Jess felt tears prick hereyes.
‘I love you, so much,’ she whispered back and felt his fingers lace between hers, squeeze them. He stroked a finger down herface.
‘Everything’s going to be okay, Jessie, Ipromise.’
The floor manager called for silence then and Jess took a deep breath in. As the interviewer – Diane – began her introduction, Jess straightened her back as Diane introduced them. Theo’s words gave her strength, gave her hope that it would be okay. She pressed a hand briefly to her belly, where their child stillgrew.
Because Jess desperately wanted this child – desperately. She just couldn’t live with it being murdered along with her. She glanced back at Theo’s handsome face. Maybe you should tell him that. I will, she decided, after, when we are home, when all this was over. As Diane asked her first question, Jess started tosmile.
Max glanced at his watch and wondered for the millionth time how Theo and Jess were getting on. Seth rolled his eyes and handed him a champagne flute. ‘Try this one.’ They were sitting on the porch out the back of Seth’s store. It was late afternoon, a sultry day, and too hot to sit inside. Seth listened out for the store’s doorbell and customers but it had been quiet. The porch overlooked the Sound, and a cool breeze picked up from it, cooling hotskin.
‘You trying to get medrunk?’
‘Obviously. That and educate you, you philistine.Taste.’
Max grinned. He’d been dating Seth now for a few weeks and he knew he was falling for him. The big man, taller even than Theo, was a bundle of fun to be with, erudite, kind and made Max feel safe. Max tried not to compare him to Josh but both men shared the same easy-going nature coupled with a quiet strength. But whereas Josh had been model-handsome, Seth was a man of the land, a man who built houses before going into fine wines. He had Max his dream of one day owning a vineyard, building a ranch-style home for himself, his dogs and, if he wanted, Max. Max thought it sounded divine and told him so. Seth admitted he could see them both there but was worried about scaring Max off, maybe it was too soon to talk aboutthat.
But Max wasn’t scared. For the second time in his life, he knew it was right. ‘I didn’t think it was possible to find two great loves in one lifetime,’ he’d told Seth simply and Seth had kissed him until both their headsspun.
He thought about that now and sighed. Seth nudgedhim.
‘What are youthinking?’
‘That I’m a lucky s.o.b. That I can love again after losing Josh. I didn’t think that was possible. But here you are.’ He grinned at Seth, whochuckled.
‘Damn straight. But why thesigh?’
Max shifted in his chair. ‘I am lucky… but if Theo lost Jess… he’d never even try to find love again. If Jules kills her, Theo would feel dead as well. I knowhim.’
Seth watched him carefully. ‘Then we better make sure nothing happens to her. There’s an army around her now, Max, she’s not that scared little girlanymore.’
Max had told Seth everything, and when Seth had met Jess for the first time, he gathered her in a hug that conveyed more than friendship, it was a promise. Max had fallen in love with him at that moment. With one gesture, Seth had made himself family. He reached over to grab Seth’shand.
‘I love you, bigguy.’
Seth grinned shyly. ‘Right back atcha.’
Max leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Happiness. He’d missedit.
The store’s doorbell rang and Seth levered himself out of his chair with a sigh. ‘Businesscalls.’
A minute later, Max followed him into the building to use the bathroom. Washing his hands, he could hear Seth talking to a customer. Something about the man’s voice seemed strangely familiar and Max frowned, trying to place it. He walked into the store just as the man, a tall blonde-haired guy, was walking out. Seth was writing something down and Max, trying to be nonchalant, peered over his shoulder. His eyebrows shotup.
‘Order for the Storm/Wedding? Who was thatguy?’
Seth grinned. ‘Amelia’s boyfriend, Clem. He’s arranging the pick-up for the wedding. Not long now,huh?’
Not long at all – two weeks and Theo and Jess would be married. Max couldn’t shake the feeling. ‘So who is this guy? Jess was pretty freaked out byhim.’
‘Is sheokay?’
‘She says it was just a panicattack.’
